Mai Frndjibachian
International Relations, Comparative Politics
Website: maifrnd.com
Research Interests: National Identity | Narratives | Southeast Asia | Cultural
Politics
Mai Frndjibachian is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of
Florida. Her research examines the shaping of national narratives in Southeast
Asia, especially post-war Vietnam, focusing on how theatre and multisensory
performance influence identity formation and state-building. Mai’s
interdisciplinary work draws on interpretive methods and qualitative inquiry to
investigate political communication, cultural politics, and Southeast Asian
international relations. In the classroom, she emphasizes active, collaborative
learning through Team-Based Learning, and her commitment to inclusive, high-impact teaching was recognized with the 2025 Best Graduate Teacher Award in Political Science.
Florida. Her research examines the shaping of national narratives in Southeast
Asia, especially post-war Vietnam, focusing on how theatre and multisensory
performance influence identity formation and state-building. Mai’s
interdisciplinary work draws on interpretive methods and qualitative inquiry to
investigate political communication, cultural politics, and Southeast Asian
international relations. In the classroom, she emphasizes active, collaborative
learning through Team-Based Learning, and her commitment to inclusive, high-impact teaching was recognized with the 2025 Best Graduate Teacher Award in Political Science.